Haridopolos, who is seeking the GOP nod for U.S. Senate from Florida, issued the following statement, which includes his views on President Barack Obama’s Mideast speech last week:

“As I headed to the AIPAC conference in Washington Sunday, everyone hoped the president had reconsidered and retracted ill-advised comments he made about Israel in a State Department speech late last week.

“The president didn’t. In fact, he didn’t see the harm, other than saying he created a little ‘controversy.’

“A little controversy?

“His solution for Middle East peace is to force Israel back to its 1967 borders, unilaterally and without precondition. This position is strategically naïve, historically reckless, and morally indefensible.

“Asking Israel to further expose itself to those who’ve openly called for it to be wiped off the earth, and have labeled Jews as ‘enemies of mankind,’ is not a step toward forward.

“Calling for a contiguous Palestinian state that sacrifices Israel’s safety and security only serves to further jeopardize the safety of ordinary Israelis.

“And the president’s silence regarding the significance of the Golan Heights to Israel’s security, and the ‘return’ of more than one million Palestinians to sovereign Israeli land further diminishes Israel’s security.

“Instead, President Obama’s position is a capitulation to Hamas and Hezbollah, terrorist-backed groups who have openly and repeatedly vowed to destroy Israel.

“After only a few weeks in office, the President won a Nobel Peace Prize having done nothing to advance peace. Now, he wants to prove the prize was deserved, by advancing a position that could devastate, if not eliminate, Israel.

“With all due respect, Mr. President, Israel is a friend and historic ally of the United States, an ally worthy of our respect and support. Hamas and Hezbollah are not.

U.S. Rep. Allen West: "The United States must defend Israel from all of its enemies, the same enemies that also want to destroy the United States." (Getty Images Photo)

West’s statement, which said that Netanyahu’s address “provided a clear vision of his nation’s role in the Middle East,” also said:

“The prime minister is clearly committed to peace for his people and for the entire Middle East.

“As I sat on the House Floor, the prime minister portrayed leadership, integrity and strength when he spoke of his beloved country, its remarkable past and its optimistic future. I want to make myself clear when I say that America must stand, and will always stand, by Israel.

“I support the prime minister when he says: 'Jerusalem must remain the Capital of Israel' and 'Israel will not return to the indefensible borders of 1967.' Asking to return to these borders would deny a half million Jewish people their rightful home.

“Despite what President Barack Obama has said, Israel cannot have peace with a partner that continues on the path of violence and the ultimate destruction of Israel. The Palestinian Authority remains in a pact with the terrorist organization, Hamas, and until that bond is destroyed, Israel cannot be expected to negotiate with the Palestinian Authority. It is incumbent upon Mahmoud Abbas to definitively disclose and support the right of existence of the modern day state of Israel.

“As the prime minister spoke, I once again recommitted my unwavering determination that the United States must defend Israel from all of its enemies, the same enemies that also want to destroy the United States.

“I commend Prime Minister Netanyahu for being a true, visionary leader of the Middle East. America must continue to build an even stronger, more united partnership with Israel, our greatest ally in the Middle East."